February 17, 2007

Yesterday evening, I started late from my office; just to make sure that I would get the dawn light while shooting for my recent project.Everyday I look at the location and think, next day I should carry my camera and go for shooting , but I was not able to make it for some other reason.Then I approached Aditya, my friend, colleague and photographer, so that we both can go together. After he got his first DSLR, he started a new blogwith a strong determination to shoot at least a photo everyday. I was quite sure that, if I could get hooked with him, I would be successful.

I wanted to shoot something very urban; like urban landscape or urban life. Nearby the location I found a group of people staying in tents just like a colony. Dogs, roosters, cats, utensils, tempo traveler, coca-cola crates and everything were there. They were celebrating Shiv Raatri yesterday. I went there and approached them. Not everybody were easy in front of the camera, rather some of them were afraid of being published in newspaper. I assured them. They have told me that they were from Maharastra, but seeing their dresses and activities and language they were spaking, I suspected that they came from Rajasthan; I tried to find the registration number of the tempo traveler; but Aditya told me it was hidden. I saw them opening a shop of conventional medicine made of roots, branches and so many other contemporary things within their tent. They further told me that they came to Tirupati to have a Darshan of Balaji, but I suspect that was a story just to hide their whereabouts.

They are nomads, they stay in any places for months and months and when they feel to move out, they just disappear.

Of course I have never seen such people. But the buildings behind the people are the stereotype of developing countries' buildings. Maybe most of the pictures i saw feature life in the developed world, so i found this one familiar.

Hi Sandip,Good Job done, Even I went so many times to such places, however did not think as you did. But Its a reality and there are millions like them. A photographer like U has a different way to think about the things & surroundings around us, which I can't think.Keep It Up, All the best for all of ur projects.

Hi, Sandeep. I just found your blog. Nice work. I visited India last fall (Rajasthan, Dehra Dun, Chennai and Ft Cochin)and hope to go again. I fell in love with the Himalayas and want to return - also going to Daramsala